Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoMike Munden | For The DispatchC.J. Barnett intercepts a pass with 4:50 remaining in the game, ending Michigan's final drive and helping Ohio State seal the deal on another victory over its rival.

Perfection is a funny concept in sports. It is expected by coaches, demanded by fans, sought after by players.

Yet it is really unachievable. Only in a team’s record can the combination of a team’s strengths and faults be simmered into the stark finality of victory or defeat.

Ohio State’s 26-21 victory over Michigan in front of 105,899 today in Ohio Stadium was nobody’s idea of a flawless victory. The mistakes that have bothered the Buckeyes this season were on full display — penalties, turnovers and missed tackles.

But so were the grit, the determination and the talent to overcome all of them. And so the Buckeyes, their season now finished because of NCAA transgressions that nobody on this team committed, have the satisfaction of becoming only the sixth unbeaten and untied team in the history of Ohio State football.

The victory over That Team Whose Name Shan’t Be Mentioned had almost a Greek-tragedy element to it. Defensive end John Simon, revered as the heart and soul of this team and by Meyer as practically a second son, could not play because of a bursa sac injury in his right knee.

“When they DQ’d him, it was like a possessed group on defense,” Meyer said. “I know why — because our brother was down.”

It took until the second half for the defense to become possessed. Michigan (8-4, 6-2) scored three touchdowns in the first half, the final one coming after it looked as if the Wolverines were content to run out the clock.

But quarterback-turned-running back Denard Robinson, himself impaired by a bad elbow that prevented him from throwing, bounced off simultaneous hits by Christian Bryant and Travis Howard to go 67 yards for a touchdown that gave Michigan a 21-17 lead.

Even after Drew Basil kicked a 52-yard field goal for Ohio State at the end of the half, the Buckeyes looked quite vulnerable.

But they have been in that position much of the season. The defensive players were particularly resolved to tighten up.

“They promised us when we went into halftime that they wouldn’t give up a point, and they didn’t,” said receiver Corey Brown, who caught a touchdown pass in the first half but also muffed a punt that set up a Wolverines touchdown.

The defense set the tone on Michigan’s first possession of the third quarter. On fourth-and-2 from the Wolverines 48, coach Brady Hoke elected, after taking a timeout, to go for it. But Ryan Shazier and Etienne Sabino stuffed Robinson for a loss. The Buckeyes took advantage of the field position to take the lead on a 28-yard field goal.

The Buckeyes offense had several more chances to put the game away but couldn’t.

Braxton Miller had a 42-yard run, but otherwise found running lanes clogged, though he was an efficient 14 of 18 passing for 189 yards against the nation’s top-ranked pass defense.

Carlos Hyde was the workhorse he wanted to be in last week’s overtime win at Wisconsin, running for 146 yards on 26 carries.

But still, the Buckeyes offense couldn’t deliver the knockout.

After Bryant caused a Robinson fumble, Ohio State drove to the Michigan 4. Facing second-and-1, Miller was sacked by a blindside hit — for the second time in the game — and then had to chase down an errant snap. That was followed by a missed 39-yard field goal attempt by Basil.

In the middle of the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes took over at the Michigan 10 when Johnathan Hankins forced a Devin Gardner fumble, recovered by Howard. Again, the Buckeyes couldn’t end the suspense. They had to settle for Basil’s career-high fourth field goal to make it 26-21.

But Ohio State’s defense rose to the occasion for the final time. C.J. Barnett stepped in front of a Gardner pass for an interception at the Michigan 49 with 4:50 left. After yielding 219 yards in the first half, Ohio State surrendered only 60 in the second half, including just 8 in the fourth quarter.

The Buckeyes then used the power running of Hyde to run out the clock. As the final seconds ticked away, fans swarmed the field. Players hugged and posed for pictures. Offensive coordinator Tom Herman embraced Miller and kissed his helmet when they met on the way to the locker room.

The Buckeyes will remain in Columbus when Wisconsin and Nebraska play for the Big Ten championship on Saturday. They will be at home during bowl season.

Their season is over, but their legacy is only beginning.

“After our team meeting on Tuesday, we start a new journey,” Meyer said. “And however the journey (goes), the foundation’s really, really strong. It couldn’t be stronger, because of our senior class. That’s all I can think about.

“I want to make sure they’re properly recognized as one of the great groups of seniors in the history of this program.”